If you make a mosom tea

In this tale riffing on Laura Joffe Numeroff and Felicia Bond'sIf You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985), a child tends to a beloved grandfather. "If you make a Mosom tea, he will want some bannock to go with it," an unseen narrator notes. Tea will inevitably lead to storytime as the elder reminisces about a childhood free of TV but rife with good times, from playing hockey to fashioning his own toys from wood. Next, Mosom will want to show off photos from his youth--don't forget to help him find his reading glasses ("Oh, they are in his pocket!"). After a snack, Mom will help him check his blood sugar; he's a bit nervous of needles, so "you can help by holding his hand." Next, it's time for a walk; Mosom will point out plants and berries--perhaps you can both pick some saskatoons to have with bannock. "Chances are, if Mosom is going to have bannock and berries, he is going to ask for some tea"--cleverly bringing this warm story of intergenerational bonding full circle. Simpson (Pasqua First Nation) matter-of-factly demystifies potentially overwhelming or unfamiliar aspects of aging while also adeptly incorporating elements of Native culture; Côté's illustrations are labeled with Cree words, defined at the end in a picture glossary. Occasionally on the static side, the artwork is at its best while depicting outdoor scenes and animals. Mosom is brown-skinned; Mom and the child are lighter-skinned. Tender and thoughtful.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.